“Thanks for agreeingto meet for lunch,” Marjorie greeted as she took the seat across from me in the casual dining restaurant. “This place is close to work, and it’s been hectic at the office lately.”
I nodded, taking in her somewhat flustered look. “Looks like it. You just got back into town last night, right?”
She pushed a few strands of her permed hair behind her ear as the waiter filled our glasses with water.
I leaned into the table. I liked Marjorie. She was a badass when it came to numbers and accounting, qualities that aided in her career and a reason she traveled so frequently. Yet, there was also a charming innocence about her. She reminded me of the actress Tika Sumpter but in more corporate attire.
Her boyfriend, Kelvin, wasn’t an unattractive man by any stretch or a slacker. He was well-known in the media for changing his hair color, most recently to a blond color on top, while leaving the rest of his nearly black strands alone.
“That’s right. I think I’ll be in town for the next few weeks since that account is wrapping up.”
“That should make Kelvin happy. He still has a little while before summer camp begins, right?”
She inclined her head and pursed her lips together as if contemplating something. “Yes. Hopefully, he’ll enjoy it.”
Looking down at the table, she eyed the manila folder I’d set off to the side.
“Let’s wait to go over that until after our food has arrived,” I suggested.
Minutes later, the waitress approached, and we ordered our meals.
“How’s your brother doing?” she asked after a few minutes of small talk.
A small pit of guilt filled my belly. It had been a couple of weeks since I’d seen my brother or my mother. While Tuesday night dinners were our tradition, in recent months, I found myself spending more and more time with Don. He never asked me to ditch my family, but if he was off work, I wound up at his place, or him at mine.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “He’s doing okay.” My mother would’ve called me if anything happened to him. “He’s still not working, though. The department has a great leave of absence policy for injured firefighters.”
“That’s good. Oh, that reminds me. There’s that fundraiser for the Injured Firefighter’s Fund in a few weeks. Kelvin’s a big supporter of the charity. His best friend’s brother is a firefighter.” She looked up and a wrinkle in her forehead relaxed on a smile. “I had to make sure I had that connection right. I always goof it up.”
Laughing, I waved a hand in the air. “I know who you’re referring to. Tyler Townsend, right?”
“Yeah, those two are close.”
I nodded, thinking about the Cougar’s star quarterback. “Yeah, his brother, Carter, works with my brother and Don. Or worked,” I added after a moment’s hesitation.
“Don?”
I blinked at Marjorie, not even realizing I’d brought him up. “Oh, he’s, uh, a friend of the family.”
Thankfully, our waitress chose that moment to bring out our food.
She sat my plate of salmon, couscous, and sauteed spinach in front of me before setting Marjorie’s dish in front of her.
“This looks so delicious. I rushed out of the house this morning without breakfast. Kelvin always gets on me for doing that.”
“I know,” I said, remembering that morning as I all but ran out of Don’s apartment so that I would be on time for an early phone meeting with a prospective client.
Again, I missed the words that came out of my mouth until I found Marjorie staring at me with a smile as she chewed her food.
She swallowed. “You look happy.”
“Me?” I shifted in my seat. “I’m always happy.”
“Yes,” she waved her fork in the air, “but I mean, you look happier. Like there’s something different about you now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I averted my gaze over her shoulder and sipped my water.
